The oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in vitro was studied by a combination of solid-phase microextraction and GC/MS. 2-trans,4-cis-2,4-Decadienal, which is strongly toxic in vitro, was detected as the early oxidation product. This compound is degraded further to hexanal and (by cyclization of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal) to 2-pentylfuran.